Unexploited potential: a critical review of policies supporting the self-employed in Zambia

Abstract

This report is part of ZIPAR’s Flagship project on “More and Better Jobs”. The Flagship project was launched on 25th June 2015 and is running for around 18 months. It will develop an understanding of Zambia’s jobs challenge and policy options for how to respond. It is addressing both the underlying long-term challenge of how to create more and better jobs and also the short-term challenge of protecting jobs during the current economic slowdown. The project is being informed by an Advisory Group, which includes representatives of the private sector, government, civil society, academia and international organisations. This paper, however, represents the views of ZIPAR alone. For further information on the flagship project see http://tinyurl.com/p2nnhnk. ZIPAR would also like to thank all the Government Institutions, Business Associations and the individuals through the District Business Association that participated in the study. The information they provided during the key informant interviews and the Focus Group Discussions was invaluable in completing this report. Lastly, but certainly not the least; ZIPAR also acknowledges Isaac Zyambo for the support he provided in collecting data from all the districts included in the study.